We are hoping to do the Atlantic Circuit and want to include our beloved dog in this adventure. Are there any intrepid dog lovers out there who have done this? We are based in the UK so would be grateful for advice (apart from "don't do it!") re his being allowed on foreign land and back into the UK.

Though I haven't experience with this, and am not particularly enthusiastic about cruising with a dog, there certainly are a lot of cruisers who do take them.

Your best source of information would be the official policies of each of the countries that you expect to visit to be sure that you have the correct immunizations and documents proving such. I believe that there are significant requirements just to bring your dog from the UK to France or other EU countries, so they might be the first places to check. The US or Canada would be the second more restrictive, I believe.

A few areas to be prepared for. The Caribbean islands, in general, have little in the way of restrictions or veterinary services. You will have to be careful about hookworm, traditionally a subtropical and tropical parasite, and heartworm. There might be others, and mange is a real problem in the stray dogs I've seen in the Caribbean.

That is the extent of my knowledge, and I am sure that it is not sufficient to protect your dog, so please do as much research as possible for your own benefit.

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__________________In 1986 we went cruising for a few years. After 20 years and 50+ countries and several oceans, we are STILL "cruising for a few years".

Only a short trip but I am about to take my yacht from Portugal (Algarve) to Brest (France). I am taking our young Jack Russell which has the UK Pet passport and is microchiped. Do you know what the formaities are for taking him from Portugal to Spain and then on to France?

The plan then is for the first mate to take him home with her on the ferry from Roscoff to Plymouth which is OK I believe for getting back into the UK

The Schipperke was bred in Flanders by a canal boat captain named Renssens. Thought to be descended from the same sheep-herding stock as the black Belgian Sheepdog, the Schipperke was bred smaller and smaller and eventually became a different breed entirely. It became a favorite choice to guard canal barges in Belgium. In Flemish Schipperke means "Little Skipper", or "Little Captain". This being so, because the dogs were the "ratters", a very important function on a canal barge, and also usually the captain's dog. Hence, the name of the little skipper. The breed became very popular in Belgian households by the late 1800's. It first appeared at a dog show in 1880. From that point on it was exported throughout the world. Today he serves primarily as a companion dog. The Schipperke do very well on boats and people often get this breed to come along with them on boating and fishing trips. It makes a great guard dog when the boat anchors for the night, alerting of anything out of the ordinary and the dog thoroughly enjoys its trip.

Only a short trip but I am about to take my yacht from Portugal (Algarve) to Brest (France). I am taking our young Jack Russell which has the UK Pet passport and is microchiped. Do you know what the formaities are for taking him from Portugal to Spain and then on to France?

The plan then is for the first mate to take him home with her on the ferry from Roscoff to Plymouth which is OK I believe for getting back into the UK

The last time I drove from Portugal to France via Spain there were no customs/immigration border posts that were manned (deserted) I guess that restrictions on the movement of domestic livestock are instituted when there are outbreaks of diseases like foot and mouth - these being served locally. The only disease that I can think of that Europe may consider issuing controls for would be rabies, so make sure the dog has it's certificates.

I am certainly no expert on the control of pets transiting European countries but I do know a bit about border control in Europe.

Firstly, the UK is not a so called "Schengen" country so immigration control is the order of the day even when arriving by boat from mainland Europe. The control may be lax but it is there and you can be checked.

Regarding sailing between Schengen countries be aware that the situation is not the same as driving between Schengen states. In the Schengen agreement, the sea is considered an external border. After all, who can say that an arriving vessel has come from another Schengen country or not and even if it has there is the question as whether or not that vessel has had contact with another vessel (from a non Schengen country) at sea. The exception to this is ferries running on scheduled sailings.

The above I am sure about. What I believe, and there is an element of doubt here, is that dogs being moved from one Schengen state to another or to the UK are not subject to compulsory checks provided they cross internal land borders or depart from and arrive to another Schengen state or the UK provided they are on a scheduled ferry, aircraft or the channel tunnel. They do need to have the European Pet Passport though.